Two weeks until Christmas!! Can you believe it? There is so much going on, I feel like I haven’t had a minute to sit down (because I’ve been making a ridiculous amount of cookies!). Not only is Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap post coming up on Wednesday but this Sunday I’m part of a Cookie Takedown. I’m so psyched, I’ve come up with a really great recipe…I hope I win! In the meantime there are tons of delicious events going on this week, don’t miss out!

Dec 11 - Holiday Party and Pop Up Shop at Gershwin Hotel, 7 E 27th St. (bt. Madison & 5th Ave) from 6-9pm. Who needs Black Friday when you can drink, nibble, and listen to live Brazilian music while you shop fair trade gifts from around the world? The trendy Gershwin Hotel’s hosting Global Goods Partners, One Mango Tree, Madecasse, and others so you can squeeze in some last-minute holiday shopping.

Single & Blended Scotch with Cheese at Artisanal Premium Cheese Center, 483 10th Ave (bt. 36th & 37th St) from 6:30-8:30pm. If you’re into cheese and drink pairings, learn how to pair your favorite creamy snack with something new: scotch. Sure, wine and beer are great, but sometimes you need something a little stronger. Show up half an hour early to sample fondue and other cheeses with sparkling wines. Tickets cost $75, and you can click here to grab a pair for you and a friend.

Gail Simmons: Latke Sizzleat the 92nd Street Y, Buttenweiser Hall, 1395 Lexington Ave (@ 92nd St) at 8:15pm. “Top Chef” judge and culinary diva Gail Simmons loves latkes—especially when they’re paired with vodkas. She’ll chit-chat with Mitchell Davis from the James Beard Foundation (who is a culinary expert in his own right) about Jewish cooking before signing copies of her new memoir, Talking With My Mouth Full: My Life as a Professional Eater. Tickets start at $29, and you can click here to get one. By the way, it’s okay if you just show up for the latke samples and sips of vodka. We won’t tell anyone.

Dec 12 - Champagne vs. Sparkling Wine: Not All Bubbles are Created Equal at Astor Center, 399 Lafayette St (@ E 4th St) from 6:30-8:30pm. Do you know the difference between frothy, creamy, and streaming bubbles in your glass of Champagne? How about the difference between a bottle of Cava and a bottle of Prosecco? If you want to bring something nicer than Andre (…ugh) to your next holiday party, or if you just enjoy tasting sparkling wines, check out this comprehensive class. You’ll learn all about what methode champenoise means, why soil types matter, and what your favorite sparklings might be. You can get your tickets here for $79, less than a bottle of Veuve Cliquot.

Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree Holiday Party at Merchant’s House Museum, 29 E 4th St (bt. Bowery & Lafayette St) from 6:30-8:30pm. Rewind to the 1950s at a cocktail party celebrating the most wonderful time of the year. Bubble lights and vintage ornaments will complement your vintage attire (there’s a prize for the best outfit) as you sip on ‘50s-era cocktails and nibble canapes. Take advantage of full skirts and swing-dance to the Tinseltones after you enter Rudolph’s Raffle. If you’re a Merchant’s House Museum member, it’s free to attend; otherwise you’ll pay $30. And don’t forget to make reservations here.

Grand Opening Party: Astoria Bier and Cheese, 3414 Broadway (bt. 34th & 35th St) from 7-10pm. If you live in Queens, or are lucky enough to be in the area, stop by this store for unlimited sampling of draft beers and cheeses. Stone Brewing Company will also be showing off their latest creation, Stone Vertical Epic 12.12.12, The Final Chapter (apparently their beer tends to sell out within days of its release at a retailer. We can’t testify to its taste, though).

Some Like It Hot: Intro to Volcanic Wines at Brooklyn Winery, 213 N 8th St (bt. Driggs & Roebling St) from 8-9pm. No, they won’t burn your mouth. But the four wines you’ll sample from Mount Etna in Italy — that’s Europe’s largest active volcano — may surprise you. Grapes grown on volcanic soil offer a different flavor than you usually encounter when you sip from a wine glass. Your sommelier will guide you through the tasting, which costs $35. You should buy tickets online (here) ahead of time, to make sure you score a seat.

Dec 13 - Sly Fox Holiday Beer Pairing at Alobar, 46-42 Vernon Blvd (Long Island City) (bt. 46th & 47th Ave) from 5:30-10pm. The chef at Alobar has cooked up 5 courses that pair with 5 different beers from the Sly Fox Beer company, and you can dig in for only $50. There’s no entrance fee, just show up and enjoy (if you can make it out to Long Island).

Beer and Latkes Hanukkah Celebration at 92Y Tribeca, 200 Hudson St (bt. Vestry & Desbrosses St) at 7pm. If you’re tired of the same old latkes, head over to the Y for specialty latkes that include Caraway with Vodka-Pickled Apples, Gravlox and Sweet Mustard Dill Sauce, and yucca with Anise and Sour cherries. Even better? They’re each paired with a beer! Tickets are $22 in advance (get yours here), and $25 at the door.

Dec 14 - To Have and Have Another: A Hemingway Cocktail Companion at the Astor Center NYC, 399 Lafayette St (@ E 4th St) form 6:30-8:30pm. Calling literature and drink lovers alike: sip on cocktails found throughout Ernest Hemingway’s writings while learning about the life of the author through his favorite drinks. Led by Philip Greene, the author of To Have and Have Another: A Hemingway Cocktail Companion, you’ll learn about Hemingway’s trick to ice-cold martinis and his personal recipe for Bloody Marys.

Dec 15 - Craft the Perfect Holiday Cheese Pairing at Classic Harbor Line/Wendy Crispell Wine, Chelsea Piers, Pier 62 (W 22 St & Hudson River) from 1:45-4:30pm. Hop aboard the ‘20s-style commuter yacht, Manhattan, for a wine-centered harbor cruise. Taste several different wines, and learn how to pair them with artisan or farmstead cheeses, all while sailing over the Hudson. Tickets are $95.00, and you can grab a few here. The sommelier who leads the class has a discount code on her website, if you’re interested.

Nissa’s Seasonal Taqueria Cooking Class at Ger-Nis Culinary and Herb Center, 530 President St, Ste. 2E (bt. 3rd & 4th Ave) from 2-5pm. Spend a few hours learning how to make the perfect citrus margaritas, the softest flour tortilla, and the richest taco meat (no mixes required). Drink Tecate while you cook and learn about the history of tacos, and why it takes more than guacamole to make a good taco. Call for tickets.

Dec 16 - Food Experiments Best Bite Championship Experiment at Brooklyn Brewery, 79 N 11th St (bt. Berry St. & Wythe Ave) from 1-4pm. Find out what goes into the “Perfect Bite” as you sample 20 different dishes that the best ameteur chefs from around the country have to offer and while enjoying unlimited Brooklyn Brewery beer. Your ticket money goes to support culinary education for disadvantaged children and teens. Foodies and competition-lovers alike can buy tickets herefor $45.

Fondue Night at Trestle on Tenth, 242 10th Ave (@ 24th street) from 5-10pm. Every winter, Trestle on Tenth serves up $25 Swiss fondue to help you keep warm Euro-style. Enjoy the dipping your baguette in the creamy blend of Gruyere, Emmentaler and Vacherin cheeses while sipping Swiss wine. Bring someone along, because why eat fondue if you don’t have someone to share it with you?

Hello World!

I'm a 20 something, fun loving girl living in NYC. I’m (healthily) obsessed with food & everything about it...eating, smelling, cooking, even just looking! I am professionally trained, graduating from the Institute of Culinary Education in 2010. I don't currently work in the culinary world but I hope to soon! In the meantime I'm cooking, eating and blogging. So stick around! :)
xo,
Lacy